| 1984 |
Commenced
training at AKKA Marrickville Dojo - Sempai Doug Turnball.
1984 - Selected as team martial for the first
ever event held at Homebush sports Stadium for the Nationals This
was a 2 day event with a huge contingent of fighters from New
Zealand who also participated.
After grading 10th Kyu moved Dojo's to AKKA Revesby Dojo - Sempai
Con Kakatsos.
|
| 1987
- 1991 |
Competed
& placed in various Knockdown State & National titles,
competed against names such as Tom Levar, Mick Young, Keith Bosler,
Doug Elliot to name a few. |
| 1989 |
Graded
to Shodan - By AKKA Hanshi
John Taylor at Bondi Dojo.
Successfully completed the 40 man Kumite after a 4 hour grading
- Total Grading time 5 hours. |
| 1989 |
Selected
for the Australian Squad - Trained with Kyokushin greats
such as Sam 'Slam' Greco, Tom Levar, Richy Cunningham, Mark Tyson,
Mick Young, Andrew Sardelis, Milosh Ivanovic, Andrew Harisiou
to name a few. Coached under the AKKA Coach Trevor Fields. |
| 1990 |
Opened
First Dojo - Sandy Point - Kids classes only - AKKA affiliated |
| 1991
|
Opened
New Dojo - Mortdale Public School with Sensei Anneliesa Dean
Produced Non-contact & full contact Champions in both Kids
& Adults - AKKA affiliated
Dojo now under the direction of Ian Lyle - affiliated with Shihan
Nick Cujic.
|
| 1994 |
Produced
my first Full Contact Fighters - Alicia Smith, Glen Holland
(Glen placing 2nd in Western Region Full Contact titles - St Mary's
and club) Alicia took 4 times National champion to extension losing
on referees decision - preventing Vanessa Mitchell from continuing
on in the tournament due to injuries sustained in the fight against
Alicia. |
| 2000 |
Moved
to the Macarthur area - opened Dojo in Currans Hill Public
School
|
| 2001 |
Produced
my first Shodan - Sempai Alicia Smith also trained Sempai
Mark Hanratty long time friend & training collegue who alongside
Alicia achieved his Shodan Black Belt successfully. |
| 2000-2006 |
Alongside
wife Sempai Alicia they together have produced many State &
National Champions from the then famous Currans Hill Dojo. |
| 2006 |
Hardest
decision of all was made this year - For the sake of their
students & the future of their Dojo they chose to leave IKO
Matsui and returned to their old stomping grounds under the watchful
eyes of AKKA legend - Hanshi John Taylor
which is in direct affiliation with IKO Matsushima - still demanding
high standards since the birth of AKKA Kyokushin which was
established in 1972.
Many have asked why?
Students require regular tournaments & Dojo's
need maximum support, without this how can a dojo improve and
students grow if not supported on solid ground?
Tournaments teach students how to;
1. React to pressure.
2. Survive out of their comfort zone.
3. Lose well & humbly win.
4. Handle confrontational situations.
5. Improve their Karate skills.
6. Create great sportsmanship within - then becoming a great Martial
Artist.
|
| 2006 |
Trained
Australian Squad members at Bondi Dojo for 1 day in preparation
for 2006 World Cup.
Produced World Cup Competitor Sempai Alicia Smith.
|
| 2007 |
Opened
Fulltime Dojo in Smeaton Grange - specialising in teaching
Kyokushin Karate ONLY.
Raymond Letby (Student) Successfully completed the 25 man Kumite
test awarded by Hanshi John Taylor
– Involved in fighting some of Kyokushin's greatest, Hanshi
John Taylor 9th Dan, 5 times World Full contact Champion
Sensei Naomi Wood, Australian Squad trainer Sensei Rob Lareti, Sempai
Mark Hanratty Full Contact Champion & Raymond's other trainer
Sempai Alicia Smith.
Commenced coaching the land training for the Atlantis Aquatic Centre's
Metro, state & National swimmers/Champions. (Position still
held) |
| 2008 |
Produced
World Cup competitor Narelle Letby - Japan World Cup 08
Assistant trainer for 1 day for the 2008 World Cup Australian Squad.
Specialising in true street awareness, due to the extensive experience
in the security industry.
|
| The
Production of Shodans |
2001
Sempai Alicia Smith - 2004 Ni-Dan rank & producing her own
champions since 2000.
2005 Sempai Daniel Schmidt
2006 Sempai Mitchell Kelly
2008
Sempai Raymond Letby
2008 Sempai Jonathan Pacchiarotta – Junior instructor at
Dojo / In training for full contact tournaments.
|
| 2009
Goals |
To
produce students that in time will have the confidence to defend
themselves if need be.
If students place in tournaments this is a bonus – ultimately
it’s the building of personality in a young man or woman that
is very important to me - Both Sempai Alicia and myself are tough
but we do get results and discipline does not discriminate. Kyokushin
cannot be mixed with others styles, as it already is a full Martial
Art within itself and Kyokushin does demand unfaltering devotion
to the task at hand.
To continue to support the largest and longest running Kyokushin
organisation in Australia - AKKA
|
